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Tuesday, December 31, 2013

I can't tell you how much this talk has buoyed me up this week. Does anybody else get kind of "down in the dumps" after Christmas? Moms all over the country work so hard during the holiday time and it sometimes feels like all that work and you didn't feel really great after all the hoopla was over. Maybe, like me, you have unrealistic expectations? I know I get that way. I want everybody to just be ecstatic over all my work, gifting, dinners, and sing my praises or something. You know, it's like when you are trying to keep the house just immaculate, but those toilets don't scream "thank you!" for shining them up over and over, now do they? Nope.

All my work is done at this point. I was taking a moment to feel my accomplishments.....before the chaos began.....

Cinnamon Rolls doctored up a bit from Rhodes Rolls....

Morning brunch on Christmas Day.....I have made date nut bread, cinnamon rolls, hashbrown sausage casserole and corn pudding. Check them all out HERE at Weekday Chef my other blog.

And I had out of town company in the form of my little 11 month old darling granddaughter and my son and his wife. And it was so fun to have them around. They are delightful, funny, great company and entertaining to us. But when they left I was kind of sad, you know how that is if you have kids who live around the country. I hate that part where they go and live their own lives! It shouldn't be allowed I tell ya. :D

My cute grandkiddos and my son Dev and his cute wife Caitlin.

Lena after eating spaghetti and enjoying it as you can see.....lol

Then I heard about a really great person whom I have always admired that got excommunicated from the church. I was quite devastated. I just really care about this person and their family. His kids and I were in a play our stake put on called " City of Joseph" a few years back. I just was very sad about it. And there are other things going on that make me kind of worried and sad about others' lives in and out of the church and how it will all work out in the end. I hope it works out good for everybody of course. I have a big, bleeding heart and it can get me down at times worrying about everybody I care about.

The 6 grandkiddos all smiling at once!

So my hubs found this talk for me and I have listened to it multiple times. My hubs is like that. He cares for me so well. And I just love Brad Wilcox. He is a teacher educator at BYU and I'm a teacher. I've gone to hear him speak on education and gospel topics (he was a mission president in Brazil and I got to hear him speak before he left) and he gives such a great message to all who are seekers and believers like I am. Maybe it will lift you up this New Year's eve like it does me. There is so much hope and good in this world. I think if we actively look for it, and keep trying to improve in all the ways we are weak, then we will be made stronger, and we will feel more confident in our own progress on this earth. And when I feel confident and good about myself, I am happier. And when I am happy I can be of greater service to others.

Our goal is to find the JOY in this life, even when we struggle too. Life is still good!

As I look forward to 2014 I realize that time and persistence and focus is what I have in my favor. I can choose to improve in small, little ways this year. I can keep focused on my small goals and persist over and over even when I feel I have failed yet again. And I know the Lord's grace will cover up my flaws and make all the difference when all is said and done. I know this is true and I testify of it. I feel His presence near me sometimes when I am doing something really good (usually serving others) and I so appreciate that spiritual gift that I've been given. I think as I get older, I realize it is rare.

My granddaughter drew this picture and gave it to me. I loved it so much I may have to frame it....

I hope all my family can grow this year in strength of will, and the ability to serve others in a greater capacity. And I hope and wish for all of you so much LOVE in greater waves in the year to come! God Bless you all in 2014!

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

This is a fun activity I've posted about before but since we just had the snowstorm of the century, this snowball activity might be fun! At least here in snowy Utah! It's a Primary Snowball "toss". (Don't call it a snowball fight or you'll be sorry!) Tell the kids it's their once a year time when they can pelt you with snowballs! Yipee! They will love that.

Juggle your snowballs using old white socks tied in a knot or white marshmallows...giant sized!

My sister-in-law also gave me this fun idea. She was also a chorister for tons of years like me.

You could also use styrofoam balls for snowballs.....

Give each of the kids a piece of white scratch paper. It could have stuff on the back, nothing fancy. Then tell them to write their favorite primary song on it and crumple it up. One class at a time can go and throw the snowballs at you. Then you reach down and pick one up!

My cute "Snowman" table setting. I added a table runner but forgot to take another picture.

Whoever's snowball it is you will then sing their favorite song however you want to. Maybe they could try to "juggle" 3 snowballs while you get everyone to sing. (these could be white beanbags made with old white socks filled with rice or dried beans or popcorn, then tied in a fat knot and cut off. OR they could be some of those giant marshmallows they sell for a dollar at the market! Or you could use ping pong balls. They are only a few buck at Walmart or Target in the sporting goods section. That is always fun!

Whiffle balls could also be white snowballs!

Or white whiffle balls would work great too. I've bought sets of 4 of those for a dollar at the Dollar store.I thought you could be prepared with a fun little song taken from Primary-to-Go. Let's do a fun rendition of Popcorn Popping called "Snowflakes Falling"

Popcorn Popping with a little WINTER TWIST!

Snowflakes Falling on the Evergreen Trees.....

I LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW AND WHAT DID I SEE?(Put your hands in round circles like binoculars around your eyes)

SNOWFLAKES FALLING ON THE EVERGREEN TREE.(wiggle fingers from high to down low like snow falling)

WINTER'S BROUGHT ME SUCH A NICE SURPRISE,(close both fists, then flick them open on surprise)

SNOWFLAKES FALLING RIGHT BEFORE MY EYES. (wiggle your fingers above your head and pass in front of your face)

I CAN MAKE A SNOWBALL, I KNOW I CAN,(motions of making a snowball with both cupped hands)

THREE SNOWBALLS MAKE A BIG SNOWMAN.(motion your arms to make the outline of a 3 circled snowman)

I KNOW IT'S REALLY SO, AND I'M GLAD TO SEE,(nod yes, at the same time you point to your smiling face)

SNOWFLAKES FALLING ON THE EVERGREEN TREES.(wiggle your fingers from high to down low like snow falling).

Once There Was a Snowman... Here's the white sheet snowman I cut up and colored with permanent markers one year. I used it over and over. Just squat down holding him and have him grow with you as you sing "tall, TALL, TALL!"

Use Xylophones and bells to let kids keep the rhythm of the songs you are singing. check out my store for musicial instrument links. Kids love musical instruments in Primary.

Here are the guitar or autoharp chords if you want to play them instead of piano. Sometimes I would bring my Auto Harp or Use the xylophone above to get the kids to come up and play notes to the beat as you all sing. That is always motivating!

Another good song is Once There Was a Once There was a Snowman. Link to my post with pictures I did last winter. Snowman Link. My SNOWMAN is made from an old sheet. I choose a child to come up and scrunch down really little with it in their hands. Then when we sing tall, tall, tall, they make it grow. When it melts then they do the opposite of course. They let the snowman shrink back to a puddle again.

My 5 year old granddaughter made this snowman picture and gave it to me. I think I might have to frame it I loved it so much! Whee!

Here I am at Lindon's Stringtown Railroad Polar Express with my grandkids. It was lots of fun but super COLD!

Have some fun while the weather is wintery again! In the meantime I've been discovering how fun it is to go sledding with my 5 and 6 year old granddaughters. It reminded me why life is so fun! Now get out there and enjoy your winter time!

In the meantime, Merry Christmas to all! I am so grateful for all that has been given to me in this life, especially the ultimate gift of the Savior's birth and his grace. I hope you all have a wonderful and peaceful Christmas Holiday. Enjoy your families!

Saturday, December 7, 2013

YOU ARE CALLED OF GOD

You are called of God. The Lord knows you. He knows whom He would have serve in every position in His Church. He chose you. He has prepared a way so that He could issue your call.

You are called to represent the Savior. Your voice to testify becomes the same as His voice, your hands to lift the same as His hands. His work is to bless His Father's spirit children with the opportunity to choose eternal life. So, your calling is to bless lives.

There will be times when you will feel overwhelmed. One of the ways you will be attacked is with the feeling that you are inadequate. But you have access to more than your natural capacities, and you do not work alone. The Lord will magnify what you say and what you do in the eyes of the people you serve."

Pres. Eyring

This is why Pres. Eyring is my favorite. He was my Ricks College President back in the day when I was in my very first year of college. That was a long time ago!!. He was nice then and he is just as nice now. If you ever feel overwhelmed or inadequate in your calling, come back and read this again. It simply makes me feel joyful.

We did Baptisms at Draper, Utah temple last week.....awesome!

I just wanted to share that I found a bunch of my relatives on Family Search.com and my hubs and I went to the Draper, Utah temple and did baptisms for them. It was neat to have my hubs baptize me and do the confirmations too. I loved being there. We both used to be temple ordinance workers when that temple first opened and before that were ordinance workers at the Jordan River Temple. I miss it. There is no place like being in that peaceful, otherworldly place. Christmas Bells are Ringing Flipchart at Sugardoodle!

But I've also done PICTURE A CHRISTMAS and WHEN JOSEPH WENT TO BETHLEHEM too. They are two of my favorites. It's not too late! Do a Christmas number. The parents love it and it special music always adds to the spirit of the meeting. mmmmhmmm...

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About Me

I've taught 1st and 2nd and 5th grades, and now Kindergarten and this is my 21st year teaching school. I love to craft, cook, read, shop and go to parties or lunches out. I have 5 1/2 cute granddaughters, and 1 grandson that I LOVE more than food! (And I LOVE food!) I have a very nice husband who makes me laugh just about every day! I love to run off to my lake cabin when life gets crazy! I hope my writing gives a little lift to your day and reminds you to go enjoy life!